Top signing Naby Keita has been missing for weeks

Setback for Werder Bremen’s top signing Naby Keita: The former Liverpool FC player has to sit out for weeks in preparation and is likely to miss the start of the season. As his club announced, the 28-year-old midfielder suffered a muscular injury in the adductor area while warming up before the friendly against VfB Oldenburg (3-1).

At first, Keita himself and head coach Ole Werner assumed that the injury would be minor. “It’s extremely bitter for Naby and for us as a team,” Werner said after the diagnosis: “We’ll do everything we can to ensure that Naby gets fit again as soon as possible. But we have to assume that Naby won’t support us on the first few days will be available.”

Keita, who moved from Anfield Road to the Weser on a free transfer this summer, will go to the training camp in Zillertal despite the injury. “We have optimal conditions there for his rehabilitation, and he can also integrate further into the team there,” said Werner.

Werder will start the season on August 12th in the DFB-Pokal at Viktoria Köln. On August 18, Bayern Munich will come to the Weser Stadium for the start of the Bundesliga.